Medical Prescription Pitfalls of Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Government Healthcare Facilities in Zambia

Authors

  • C Besa Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia
  • S Siziya Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55320/mjz.44.2.268

Keywords:

Drug errors, urinary tract infection, adverse drug reactions, drug – drug interactions, Zambia

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this evaluation was to identify pitfalls in medical prescriptions of uncomplicated urinary tract infections in government healthcare facilities in Zambia.
Design: This was a cross sectional and government healthcare facilities were conveniently sampled.
Main outcome measures: Rate of compliance to Zambia national prescribing guidelines.
Results: A total of 42 (75.0%) out of 56 students participated in the survey of whom 66.7% were males. Findings in this study has demonstrated significant drug misuse and over-prescription as participants were healthy individuals. Only 75.6% of prescriptions indicated patient's name and very small proportions of prescriptions (11.5%) indicated patients' address. In addition, relatively small proportion of prescriptions (68.8%) had generic names and many prescriptions (58.1%) had large blank spaces left. Furthermore, relatively large proportion of prescriptions were not signed (10.7%) and not dated (12.0%). Almost half of the prescriptions (47.6%) did not show prescribers' names and only small proportions of prescriptions had precribers' identification number (24.0%) and address or department (21.5%) indicated. 
Conclusions: Overall, the evaluation has shown poor prescribing practices and not in compliance with national prescribing guidelines among prescribers in government healthcare facilities in Zambia.

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Published

11-06-2017

How to Cite

Besa, C., & Siziya, S. (2017). Medical Prescription Pitfalls of Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Government Healthcare Facilities in Zambia. Medical Journal of Zambia, 44(2), 88–92. https://doi.org/10.55320/mjz.44.2.268

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Original Article